Dry cleaning apparatus



May 21, 1929. o, REDMOND 1,713,979

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1927 Inventor: Olneg Redmohd,

is At orneg.

Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES OLNEY REDKOND, OF SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application med December 2, 1927. Serial in. 237,219.

The present invention relates to dry cleaning apparatus, that is, apparatus for use with a cleansing fluid such as benzine or the hke.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved dry cleaning apparatus adapted especially for use in the ordinary household.

At the present time, in performing a dry cleaning operation in a household, it is the practice to place the cleaning fluid in an open pan or kettle and souse the article to be cleaned up and down in the fluid. This is an ineflicient way of dry cleaning. Also, it is a dangerous operation unless carried on out of doors because of the high volatility of dry cleaning fluids and the fact that they form explosive mixtures with air. Often serious accidents have been caused from attempts at dry cleaning indoors. Such a dry cleaning method is uneconomical in the use of cleaning fluid also.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dry cleaning apparatus which may be used safely indoors, which is eflicient in operation and economical in the use of cleaning fluid, and which may be provided at low cost.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specificationand the claims appended thereto. v

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view, party in section, of a dry cleaning apparatus embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a per spective view on a smaller scale illustrating the manner in which the apparatus is used.

According to'my invention, I provide a container 1 of comparatively small size so that it is adapted to be held in the hands and shaken up and down. For example it may be a container having a capacity of the order of one or two gallons. The particular size may vary with the character of the work which is intended to be done in it. The container is round preferably as is shown in the drawing and may be formed from any suitable material. Preferably, however I form it from glass as this is an economical material to use, is easy to keep clean, and is not alfected adversely by dry cleaning fluids. The walls of the container are made thick enough to give the required strength to the container.

Container 1 has an open top closed by a removable cover 2, the cover making a tight fit with the top of the container so leakage cannot take place past it. In the present instance I have illustrated a cover which screws on and oif.

On the inner surface of the side walls of the container are vertically spaced circumferentially extending corrugations 3. These corrugations are comparatively shar and deep so as to present side surfaces 4 of a comparatively high angle. Also they are arranged preferably in two groups 5 and 6 whereby there is provided between them a line of demarcation, the line being at a point in the container such that it serves to indicate the level to which it is desirable to fill the container with cleaning fluid.

Preferably, also, I provide the bottom of the container with radially extending corrugations 8 similar to corrugations 3.

In the use of the invention, top 2 is removed and the container is then filled with the cleaning fluid up to the region of the line of demarcation which is indicated 7 in the drawing. The material to be cleaned is then placed in the container and the top 2 is screwed into place. The container is then held in the hands after the manner indicated in Fig.2 and shaken up and down. The corrugations 3 and 8 serve to catch the liquid, throwing it .out toward the center of the container in the form of a spray whereby the liquid is forced through the material being washed. In this connection, the arrangement of the corrugations 3 so that they run circumferentially of the container is important for by so arranging them they stand at a right angle to the direction in which the cleaning fluid is thrown by the up and down motion of the container, whereby the surfaces 4 can catch the fluid and throw it out toward the center of the container as already referred to. Also the shaping of the corrugations 3 so that they are relatively deep and their sides extend at relatively high angles is important since it serves to increase the throwing action of the corrugations. After the cleaning operation is completed, cover 2 may be removed and the cleaned material taken from the container. The cover 2 may then be replaced immediately to prevent evaporation of the cleaning fluid and the escape of the vapors into the room.

As will be clear, the apparatus is simple in structure and easy to use. When being used no vapors can escape into the room. The apparatus may be usedsafely therefore indoors. This is an important consideration for it is desirable to be able to do dry cleaning indoors with safety.

he apparatus is economical of cleaning fluid in that since the cover is tight, the fumes from the fluid cannot escape and hence are retained in the receptacle. This has the further advantage also, that, the fumes being retained in the receptacle, they are present to assist in the cleaning operation. In this connection it is pointed out that in dry cleaning the more volatile parts of the liquid and the fumes are especially elfective in loosening and removing dirt.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a relatively small open topped container adapted to be held in the hands and shaken up and down, said container having relatively deep circumferentially extending triangularly shaped corrugations on its inner surface which extend well toward the center of the container and are adapted to catch a cleaning fluid in the container and throw it out toward the center of the container when the container is shaken up and down, and a detachable cover which fits tightly the open top of the container. 1

2. A dry cleaning apparatus comprising a relatively small container having an open to and being adapted to be held in the ban and shaken up and down, said container being provided with two groups of relatively deep circumferentially extending triangularly shaped corrugations on its inner surface, said two groups extending well toward the center of the container and being separated to form a line of. demarcation to indicate the depth to which the container is intended to be filled with cleaning fluid, and a cover which fits tightly thetop of the container.

3. A dry-cleaning apparatus comprising a relatively small container having an open top and being adapted to be held in the hands and shaken up and down, said container being provided with triangular-shaped, circumferentially-extending corrugations on its inner surface, said corrugations extending well toward the center of the container and being relatively deep whereby they catch a cleaning fluid and throw it out toward the center of the container when the container is shaken up and down, and a tight-fitting cover for the top of the container.

In witness whereof. I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of December, 1927.

OLNEY REDMOND. 

